ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH VARIETIES OF Carica papaya L. IN TROPICAL AGRO-BASED ECOSYSTEM OF GOA, INDIA.

Abstract

The occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi was investigated in six varieties of Carica papaya L in tropical agrobased ecosystem of Goa, India. All the varieties selected for the survey viz., CO-1, Coorg honeydew, CO-2, Sunrise solo, Washington and Local were colonized with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The root colonization ranged from 26 % to 77 %, while the spore density ranged from 100 spores/100g rhizosphere soil to 236 spores/100g rhizosphere soil. Analysis of variance revealed that total nitrogen, available potassium and organic carbon content of the rhizosphere soil along with root colonization and spore density of arbuscular mycorrhizal varied significantly in different varieties of Carica papaya L. Macronutrients like available phosphorus and available potassium recorded significant negative correlation with spore density of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. However organic carbon, available phosphorus and total nitrogen recorded significant positive correlation with root colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Thirteen species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi belonging to four genera viz., Acaulospora, Glomus, Gigaspora and Scutellospora were found to be associated with six varieties of Carica papaya L. studied.